.com /.co.uk overlap

gavney1

Hey,

I want to set up a company, let's say it's called "ABC.com" and I want to get the email address @abc.com also

Unfortunately ABC.com and @abc.com are taken when I look them up on www.networksolutions.com

However, ABC.co.uk and @abc.co.uk are available, as is AB-C.com and @AB-C.com

I am happy to take either of the latter options, as long as there's no legal problems with the having a very similar name to the other company

NOW, I've looked up www.abc.com and while it's registered, the site is "under construction" and I'm guessing the company isn't off the ground yet (and btw, the real name of the business is such that it would be an almost 100% online business - so I'm pretty sure it hasn't got going yet)

Anyone know if I should have any problems setting up www.abc.co.uk?

blue4ever

so long as you have a legal (ie registered business name) entitlement to the name - then you should be ok.

on a point - if its an online business - i'd prefer to stick with a .com - unless you are specifically targeting the UK

hobbit stomper

Everybody can register domain names, you don't even need to have a Business Name registered to be entitled for it.
And if you're afraid that the other company might sue you for using the name, don't worry unless it's a multi billion dollar company they won't bother.

misslt

Look the .COM up using whois and see when it's due to renew - if they aren't using it they may let it lapse which means you can purchase it.

Also, to have your email address @abc.com you only need to purchase the abc.com domain.

As said above, I'd go with the .COM unless you're specifically targeting the UK.

gavney1

thanks guys, that's cleared up a few mis-understanding I had

As for the .COM thing, the business will be primarily UK and Ireland, so I presume .co.uk is ok. I think that the nature of the business will make the .co.uk perhaps sound even more appealing to alot of the irish customers, though maybe not - could go either way

Thanks again

misslt

What about a .IE also?

Is the domain you want your business name?

jmcc

gavney1 wrote: »

thanks guys, that's cleared up a few mis-understanding I had

The entitlement aspect (registered business name etc) applies to .ie domain names. The .com and the .co.uk are open so there is no such entitlement requirement.

As for the .COM thing, the business will be primarily UK and Ireland, so I presume .co.uk is ok.

The .co.uk extension is the default extension for the UK so it is important that you have a .co.uk if you are targeting a UK market. The .uk is also the second most used and recognised ccTLD (Country Code Top Level Domain) after .ie ccTLD in Ireland. (There are at least 12000 .co.uk domains on Irish hosters as opposed to about 8500 .eu domains). Get the .eu version too if it is available. But in terms of brand visibility, the .eu ccTLD is very low in Ireland and its utilisation for websites is on a par with .biz gTLD.

I think that the nature of the business will make the .co.uk perhaps sound even more appealing to alot of the irish customers, though maybe not - could go either way

The .ie domain is now essential if you are targeting the Irish market. There has been a massive trend towards .ie domain names in the Irish market in the last five years.

As for domain names dropping (like the .com), the percentage of domains that are unused in any extension can be quite high (20% or more). But that does not mean that they are unused. They may be used for e-mail or they may have been registered as part of a brand protection so you may just find the .com domain has an equivalent in a ccTLD as new businesses will register their .ie an .com (if available).

Regards...jmcc